The Accurate Reloading Forums
Reloading the .223...powder choices
09 March 2017, 18:11
BuglemintodayReloading the .223...powder choices
If I remember correctly the .223 was one of my first cartridges to reload. The load was 26.0gr of H335 and a 50gr ballistic tip.
There are a lot of newer powders that I've never used.
Apparently TAC is a powder that burns cleaner than H335...requiring less cleaning then H335.
A few other options...CFE223, Benchmark, BlC-2, etc
Which powder did you go with? Old Reliable or one of the newer options?
"Let me start off with two words: Made in America"
09 March 2017, 19:08
craigsterVarget.
I loaded 10,000s of .223s with H335. It worked great.
In an effort to reduce the number of powders I have in stock, I went to Benchmark. I use it in .204, 223, 22 PPC, and some others. Besides working quite well, accuracy and velocity wise, its an Extreme powder, much less impacted by temperature.
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09 March 2017, 19:59
Buglemintodayquote:
Originally posted by df06:
its an Extreme powder, much less impacted by temperature.
How much fluctuation were you getting with H335 for velocity summer vs winter? Or was it a pressure issue?
"Let me start off with two words: Made in America"
09 March 2017, 20:00
Buglemintodayquote:
Originally posted by craigster:
Varget.
Varget would be handy for me as it is my go to power for .308
"Let me start off with two words: Made in America"
09 March 2017, 21:31
700xcrI use Benchmark with 50gr. V-max or ballistic tip.
10 March 2017, 04:50
DuckearI've been on a CFE223 kick lately
Hunting: Exercising dominion over creation at 2800 fps.
10 March 2017, 05:31
craigsterquote:
Originally posted by Buglemintoday:
quote:
Originally posted by craigster:
Varget.
Varget would be handy for me as it is my go to power for .308
27.0 grs and 50 gr bullets work great in my RA, M7, and AR. It's a compressed load. Also have found it works very well in 6mm Rem with lighter (up to 70gr) bullets.
10 March 2017, 05:32
LuckyduckerMy go-to load using LC brass is a 60 grain Hornady Interlock bullet over Win 748 lit with a CCI #400 small rifle primer.
Dennis
Life member NRA
10 March 2017, 05:46
FjoldI burn a lot of BL-c2 in my plinking ARs with 50 & 55 grain bullets.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
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10 March 2017, 06:57
just say moeRamshot Xterminator does better than TAC for my 50grain loads and is very clean with max/near max loads.
"Pick out two!" - Moe Howard
10 March 2017, 19:38
SnellstromI've been using TAC
For me it gets the job done and I have quite a bit of it to work with....
11 March 2017, 05:28
phurley5I started with Varget, set my powder dropper to 27 grains of powder for 52 grain Sierra HPBT Bullets and was very pleased indeed. I then tried Blc-2 because I found a bargain, then tried CFE-223 and was amazed by it's barrel cleaning properties. I now use the same powder dropper and the one setting for all three powders and a Remington BR primer and have no reason to change a thing. I do use more of the CFE-223 for reasons already mentioned. Good Shooting.
phurley
11 March 2017, 05:50
Fjoldquote:
Originally posted by phurley5:
I started with Varget, set my powder dropper to 27 grains of powder for 52 grain Sierra HPBT Bullets and was very pleased indeed. I then tried Blc-2 because I found a bargain, then tried CFE-223 and was amazed by it's barrel cleaning properties. I now use the same powder dropper and the one setting for all three powders and a Remington BR primer and have no reason to change a thing. I do use more of the CFE-223 for reasons already mentioned. Good Shooting.
I must have a bad canister of CFE-223. It is absolutely the dirtiest powder that I've ever shot. It's listed as getting some great velocities with light bullets in the 375H&H and the 270Win. Every time that I try it it fills my barrels with soot and powder fouling. I can look down the bore of my 375 and see the fouling laying in the barrel after the first shot. It takes 20-30 wet patches to get the black out of the barrel after as few as a dozen shots.
A couple of friend's have tried it with the same results, we call CFE, "Carbon Fouling Extreme"
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
11 March 2017, 09:21
phurley5I shoot two .223 Remington's extensively and with CFE-223 I only clean every hundred rounds as opposed to everY fifty rounds with all other powders. I have three large canisters of the powder and have shot two already, guess I got the good stuff. Good Shooting
phurley
11 March 2017, 17:25
drm-hpI shoot a lot of 223 in service rifle class, my loads are:
69 smk, 23 gr. varget, magazine length
80 smk, 24 gr. varget, .020" off the lands.
Both of these shoot moa or slightly better, also clean enough to fire 240 + 24 sighters without a fallure to fire.
Doug
11 March 2017, 19:19
Mark TaylorWhen I was dinking around with a super 14 contender a lot I found Re 15 to give me great accuracy. Otherwise I'm still old school with 335.
Society of Intolerant Old Men. Rifle Slut Division.
11 March 2017, 20:28
ted thornWC844 for all of our high production 55 grain ball ammo
Varget for our 55 grain varmint rifles
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15 March 2017, 09:01
Stonecreekquote:
WC844 for all of our high production 55 grain ball ammo
H335 is the canister grade civilian version of WC844. I've used both in .222/.223/.222 Magnum and this powder is an excellent performer in this class of cartridge. But so are about a dozen or two other powders now on the market. I don't see too much advantage of one over another.
15 March 2017, 10:36
vapodogquote:
Which powder did you go with?
BL(C)-2....it's never changed in all the years I've owned a .223.....and it was great in my .222 as well. It's a very fine powder to have in the cabinet.
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15 March 2017, 19:40
DesertRamBenchmark in most of my .223s. Varget in one, a CZ527 with 50 grain Vmaxes.
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15 March 2017, 21:18
larrysWin 748 for my 52 grain accuracy loads and 335/WC844 for my bulk reloading.
Larry
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson
16 March 2017, 03:29
Pa.Frankquote:
Originally posted by craigster:
Varget.
AGREE! VARGET!!
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Life is tough... It's even tougher when you're stupid... John Wayne
17 March 2017, 08:35
Ray BWith 77 gr bullets I use Rl 15.
quote:
Originally posted by ted thorn:
WC844 for all of our high production 55 grain ball ammo
I've been working my way through a jug of 846 and I've noticed that accuracy falls off after 100 rounds or so. Then if I clean the bore accuracy is restored. The 846 fouling is resistant to Wipe Out and I usually resort to hoppes and a brush.
Does 844 or H335 behave like this? Except for the fouling build up I really like 846 for accuracy and speed. When my 846 runs out I'll be looking for a replacement, and right now A2230 is looking good. Varget is a pain to run through a measure. CFE gave good speed but accuracy was poor in all the combinations I tried.